Thank you to all the race teams, drivers, business partners, staff and especially race fans for a great 2016 season.

2017 season opener Friday March 24

ATTICA, Ohio – The 2016 racing season at Attica Raceway Park was filled with huge events but highlighted by the some of the regions toughest weekly competition. When the final checkered flags flew, Monclova, Ohio’s Byron Reed earned his eighth 410 sprint car track championship, Mansfield, Ohio’s Matt Irey scored his first career late model track title and Fremont, Ohio’s Paul Weaver capped off arguably his best career year with his second championship in the 305 sprints.

Attica Raceway Park will kick off the 2017 racing season on Friday, March 24. For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com

Following are the season recaps for each division’s top 10 in points along with the season’s rookies of the year:

O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints

Champion – Byron Reed, Monclova, Ohio
Reed claimed his eighth Attica championship. Byron racked up four wins in 2016, running his career total to 35; he sits second on the track’s all-time 410 sprint win list. Beside his four wins he also recorded four runner-up finishes on route to 11 top five finishes in 15 feature events. Byron recorded 13 top 10 finishes and never finished out of the top two spots in the final six events of the year. His average A-main finishing position was fourth!

2nd – Chris Andrews, Sandusky, Ohio
Andrews competed in 14 of the 15 A-mains, missing only the World of Outlaws event on July 12. The track’s 2006 305 champion and 2009 410 champion recorded six top five finishes including his 7th career Attica win on May 13. Andrews scored 9 top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.

3rd-Travis Philo, Waterville, Ohio
Philo competed in all 15 A-mains in 2016, recording six top 10 finishes including a season-best runner-up finish on July 1. He scored 11 top 10 finishes including finishing not worst than sixth in the last five races of the year. Philo’s average A-main finishing position was eighth.

4th – Stuart Brubaker, Gibsonburg, Ohio
Brubaker competed in 14 A-mains in 2016 including the non-wing event. He missed the June 10th and World of Outlaw feature in July. Attica’s 2008 305 sprint track champion scored his fifth career Attica 410 sprint win on Aug. 1 and recorded three top five finishes and eight top 10 runs. Brubaker’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.

5th – Brian Lay, Genoa, Ohio
Lay competed in 13 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, missing only the All Star shows on May 27 and June 17. He scored his third career 410 sprint win at Attica on May 20th. Lay recorded three top five finishes and seven top 10 runs. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.

6th – Duane Zablocki, Tiffin, Ohio
Zablocki competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, posting three top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.

7th – Caleb Griffith, Sandusky, Ohio
Attica’s 2014 410 sprint champion competed in 11 of the 15 A-mains in 2016. He recorded his second career 410 sprint win on opening night and posted four top five finishes and 10 top 10 runs. The track’s 2003 305 sprint champion posted an average A-main finishing position of seventh.

8th – Jordan Ryan, Castalia, Ohio
Attica’s 305 sprint champion the past two seasons competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, recording a season-best fourth place run on May 13 among his three top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.

9th-D.J. Foos, Fremont, Ohio
Attica’s 2010 305 sprint champion competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains. He recorded a season-best third on May 13 on route to scoring five top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.

10th – Tyler Gunn, Napoleon, Ohio
Gunn competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, scoring a pair of top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.

Rookie of the Year – Trey Jacobs, Wooster, Ohio
Jacobs finished 13th in the Attica point standings and competed in 9 of the 15 A-mains in 2016. He recorded a season best fifth on July 1 and scored six top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.

Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models

Champion – Matt Irey, Mansfield, Ohio
Irey scored his first Attica track championship. He competed in all 15 A-mains in 2016 recording an incredible 12 top five finishes including his second career feature win on May 6th. He also racked up four runner-up finishes. Irey only finished out of the top 10 twice in 2016! His average A-main finishing position was fifth.

2nd – Ryan Markham, Ashland, Ohio.
Markham, who claimed his second Attica-Wayne County Speedway Late Model Series Championship in 2016, competed in all 15 A-mains this season. He scored three victories – July 8, July 29 (ALMS) and Sept. 3 – to run his career total to 10 to be ranked fifth on Attica’s all-time win list for the super late models. Besides his three wins he also scored three runner-up finishes on route to recording 10 top five finishes and 11 top 10 runs. Markham’s average A-main finishing position was sixth.

3rd – Devin Shiels, Britton, Mich.
Shiels competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, never finishing out of the top 10. He racked up 9 top five finishes including a season best runner-up finish on May 6th to go with three third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was fifth.

4th – Mathew Chapmen, Tecumseh, Mich.
Attica’s rookie of the year competed in 14 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, missing only the year-end event. He recorded 7 top 10 finishes including a season-best pair of sixth place finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.

5th – Mike Bores, Bellevue, Ohio
Bores competed in 14 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, missing only the June 17 event. He opened the season recording his second career super late model win at Attica. He recorded four top five finishes and 9 top 10 runs. Bores’ average A-main finishing position was ninth.

6th – Rick Bond, Mansfield, Ohio
Bond competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016, recording 10 top 10 finishes including a pair of season-best fifth place finishes . His average A-main finishing position was ninth.

7th – Doug Drown, Wooster, Ohio
Attica’s 2015 late model champion competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains in 2016. He scored a remarkable 7 wins – April 15, May 13, May 20, May 27, June 17, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26 – to run his career total to 20 leaving him second on the track’s all-time win list. Besides the wins (including 4 in a row), Drown also posted 8 top five finishes and 11 top 10 finishes. In fact his worst finish of the year was a 12th. Drown’s average A-main finishing position was an incredible third!

8th – Dave Hornikel, Mansfield, Ohio
Hornikel competed in 12 of the 15 A-mains at Attica in 2016. He racked up 7 top 10 finishes including a season-best third during the ALMS event on July 29th. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.

9th – Kent Brewer, Fostoria, Ohio
Competing in his rookie season in a super late model, Brewer raced in 10 of the 15 A-mains. He recorded a season-best eighth on Aug. 19th. Brewer’s average A-main finishing position was 14th.

10th – Cody Scott, Ontario, Ohio
Scott competed in 10 of the 15 A-mains at Attica in 2016. He recorded five top five finishes including his second career win on July 1st. Scott also posted 9 top 10 finishes on route to an average A-main finishing position of seventh.

Fremont Fence 305 Sprints

CHAMPION – Paul Weaver, Fremont, Ohio
Weaver, Attica’s 2009 305 sprint champion, competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only the season ending event. He never finished worst than eighth all season, posting 9 top five runs along the way. Weaver, the 2016 FAST champion, recorded a pair of wins in 2016 – May 6th and May 20th – along with a pair of runner-up finishes and three third place runs. Weaver now has 35 career 305 sprint wins at Attica to sit atop the division’s all-time win list. His average A-main finishing position was an incredible fourth.

2nd – Kyle Capodice, Sandusky, Ohio
Capodice competed in all 14 A-mains in 2016, posting 7 top five finishes and 12 top 10 runs. He posted his first two career wins at Attica – April 15 and July 1 – and a pair of runner-up finishes. His average A-main finishing position was seventh.

3rd – Ricky Peterson, Rawson, Ohio
Peterson competed in all 14 A-mains in 2016. He recorded 6 top five finishes and 10 top 10 finishes. His best result was a pair of runner-up runs and a pair of third place showings. His average A-main finishing position was eighth.

4th – Dan McCarron, Dundee, Mich.
McCarron competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the season-ending event. He racked up four top five finishes including his first career Attica win on July 22. McCarron recorded 10 top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was ninth.

5th – Jamie Miller, Fremont, Ohio
Miller, Attica’s 2005 305 sprint champion, competed in 12 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only opening night and Aug. 19th. He racked up 8 top five finishes including wins on July 8, July 29 and Aug. 26 to run his career total at Attica to 15. Miller’s average A-main finishing position was fifth.

6th – John Ivy, Fremont, Ohio
Attica’s 1993 305 sprint champion and 2000 410 sprint track champion competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the season-ending event. He recorded four top five finishes and seven top 10 runs. Ivy’s average A-main finishing position was ninth.

7th – Tyler Street, Ashland, Ohio.
Attica’s 305 sprint rookie of the year in 2016 competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only the April 15 event. Street posted three top five finishes and seven top 10 runs including a season-best runner-up finish on July 22 and an opening night third place finish. Street’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.

8th Tie – Jason Keckler, Fremont, Ohio
Keckler competed in all 14 A-mains at Attica in 2016. Keckler posted a pair of wins – March 26 and May 27 – to run his career total at the track to three. His average A-main finishing position was 11th.

8th Tie- Steve Rando, Lindsey, Ohio
Rando competed in 13 of the 14 A-mains, missing only the July 8th event at Attica. He posted three top five finishes including a season-best 2nd on May 13th. Rando scored 10 top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was ninth.

10th – Dustin Dinan, Fremont, Ohio
Dinan competed in 12 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, missing only the May 20th and May 27th events. He recorded five top five runs and eight top 10 finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.

Rookie of the Year – Trevor Bake, Shreve, Ohio
Baker finished 14th in the track’s points. He competed in 9 of the 14 A-mains in 2016, recording a pair of top 10 finishes including a season-best 7th on the final night or racing. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.

ATTICA, Ohio – Due to scheduling conflicts, Attica Raceway Park has cancelled its season-ending awards banquet for 2016. The point fund money will be sent to the race teams soon, according to Rex LeJeune, Attica Raceway Park Director of Operations.

The top 10 in points in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 410 Sprints will share in the $22,000 point fund with champion Byron Reed taking home $8,000. The top 10 in points for the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models will share in the $15,000 point fund with champion Matt Irey earning $5,000. The top 10 in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints will share in the $10,000 point fund with champion Paul Weaver earning $3,000.

The rookies of the year in all the divisions – Trey Jacobs, 410 sprints; Matthew Chapman, late models; and Trevor Baker, 305 sprints – will receive their rewards at a later date.

Attica Raceway Park’s 2017 awards banquet will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 and teams who plan to battle for the points titles are asked to plan accordingly.

Attica will kick off the 2017 season on Friday, March 24.

A recap of the top 10 in points in all three divisions will be released in the coming weeks.

ATTICA, Ohio – Sheldon Haudenschild overcame an early race incident and passed Byron Reed on lap 20 and survived late race cautions to claim the biggest win of his young sprint car career. The Wooster, Ohio native scored his 7th Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions win of 2016 at Attica Raceway Park Saturday and earned a $10,000 payday for the first Dirt Classic Ohio.

For Haudenschild, who is third in the All Star point standings, it was the 13th career series win, two of which have come at Attica. He gave the huge crowd a thrilling “spin to win” victory on All Pro Cylinder Heads Night, the third of his career at the track, to close Attica’s 2016 season.

Haudenschild lead the first eight laps and upon entering heavy lapped traffic and battling Dale Blaney and Byron Reed, he spun in turn four but was able to keep going and dropped to third. He would quickly rebound and took second on lap 15 and drove around Reed for the lead for good on lap 20.

“I just pinned it and kept it running. I knew on this track if I could just keep it going I’d get a top five. The track was awesome…hats off to those guys. I spun out there and I kind of had to regroup and make sure I wasn’t spinning my tires and get through the first half and be there at the end. Dale (Blaney) actually made a mistake in turn four and about jumped the top which was definitely easy to do. I saw Dale entering a little lower in turn one and I tried to do that a couple of times once I got to second and I figured I’d just rail it and see what I could do. I ended up getting a good run on Byron (Reed) into three and had a pretty good slide job and tried to hit my marks from there. I still made a couple of mistakes…I got to the lappers and I thought Byron would be there. I just kept ripping it,” said Haudenschild beside his Southern Pacific Farms, Finzer Farms, Callies Performance Products, Finish Line Auto Body, Willwood, Smith Titanium, Walker Filtration, GME, BMRS backed machine.

As for the $10,000 payday? Haudenschild says it all goes back into the team. “All our money goes back to our crew and this race car. That’s the only way we stay out here and keep racing. We have to win and make a little bit of money to keep going,” he added.

For Reed, who won his eighth Attica track championship this season and picked up the victory Friday night, a second place run continued his strong run in 2016.

“I’m really happy. I think I’ve finished second at every All Star race here this year. When I saw the top was so good I knew we were in trouble with Sheldon. He’s so good on the top. Would have liked to have seen a little traffic. I think I might have made it interesting. I think I was maybe a little more maneuverable than he was but he was killing us on the top. But overall I’m pretty happy. It’s been a great year. The most win’s I’ve ever had in a season and hopefully it’s not over yet,” said Reed beside his Crown Battery, Ken Gill Construction backed #5.

Blaney’s third place run vaulted him into the All Star point lead though it is slim over Chad Kemenah. Kemenah came back from an early flat tire and drove to a 10th place finish to stay within six points of Blaney.

“The track had a few ripples in it getting into both corners and getting into three I couldn’t get to where I wanted to. I was just kind of holding on and the middle went away getting into one. We were fair…pretty good all night long really. If we can finish on the podium for the rest of the year we’ll be there at the end of this thing. It’s a good night overall for us and Janet and CH Motorsports and Muddy and Big Game and Penske Shocks, Gf1, Fisher Racing Engines…everyone does a great job with our team,” said Blaney.

Ashland, Ohio’s Ryan Markham used lapped traffic to take the lead from JR Gentry on lap eight of the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature and then held off challenges from Doug Drown and Mike Bores as he drove to his third win of the season at Attica. It was his 10th career win at the track and kept him atop the Attica Raceway Park-Wayne County Speedway Late Model Series Challenge point lead. Markham has won three of the five point races in 2016.

“I just had to get up on the wheel. It’s a little treacherous up there…I kept getting tight down here (turns one and two) and got a little push. But, if you slow down it’s harder to drive so better to go a little faster. Since we put this Swartz Chassis together we have three wins here and three second places with it. We had a good run here last night until we had a tire go down,” said Markham beside his H&T Demolition; Harriger Towing; Accu-Force; Innovative Graphics; Cool-It Thermo Tec. Backed #5M.

“I want to thank Paul Harriger. I think he got a speeding ticket on his way up here to help me tonight. It’s a good thing he got here because we got the nose boogered up. I have to give a big shout out to Bret Chance. He did a little shock stuff for me last night and we put it on today and it was pretty good. I want to thank Accu-Force for all the work they do for me and Malcuit Engines,” added Markham.

Fremont, Ohio’s Matt Foos, a former Attica dirt truck champion, continued his fantastic rookie year in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints. Foos would take the lead on lap 10 after fellow rookie Trevor Baker spun but kept going. Foos picked his way through traffic like a seasoned veteran the last five laps to score his second win of the year.

“This is unbelievable. This is my dad’s (Dave, crew chief) 50th win with all the guys he’s had working together. It’s so awesome. My dad’s been on me pretty hard bout being easy on the right foot,” said Foos beside his Rich and Shelly Farmer owned machine with sponsorship help from Level Performance, Fremont Auto Parts, Automatic Fire Protection, Big D’s Pizza.

When asked what the biggest thing he has learned in his rookie sprint car season, Foos replied, “It’s not about even driving. It’s about becoming a better person. Settling yourself down and having composure. Not letting anything bother you. You are here to do a job.”

The 40-lap All Star feature got off to a rocky start. First Reed would be penalized a row for jumping the initial start. On the second attempt Stuart Brubaker and Duane Zablocki got together after a lap was completed. On the ensuing restart D.J. Foos would stop on the track and Cole Duncan would spin. After three laps were scored eighth running Chris Andrews coast to a stop. On the restart Haudenschild would rocket away with Blaney and Reed battling for second while Craig Mintz, Tim Shaffer, Chad Kemenah and Brent Marks gave chase.

Haudenschild encountered extremely heavy lapped traffic by the ninth circuit and he would spin in turn four but kept his car under power and fell back to third with Blaney taking over the point. Reed would drive under Blaney for the top spot on lap 13 with Blaney and Haudenschild staying within striking distance. Broc Martin brought out the caution on lap 16 with Reed maintaining the lead over Haudenschild, Blaney, Mintz, Shaffer, Marks and Kemenah.

When the green reappeared Reed drove to the bottom while Haudenschild blasted away around the top. Haudenschild rim-rode into the lead on lap 20 with Reed, Blaney, Mintz and 14th place starter Travis Philo in tow. Andrews would bring out the caution again on lap 22. On the ensuing restart Cap Henry and Shaffer would tangle with Henry ending up on his side. When the green came back out Haudenschild rocketed away, building up a lead over Reed, Blaney, Mintz, Marks, Philo and Danny Holtgraver who started 20th.

Haudenschild narrowly avoided disaster on lap 31 when he made hard contact while trying to lap Broc Martin, sending Martin crashing into the fourth turn fence. Once again with a clear track, Haudenschild pulled away on the restart with Reed, Blaney, Marks, Mintz, Philo, Lee Jacobs (up from 26th) and Holtgraver giving chase.

Haudenschild built a 2.5 second lead and cruised to the win over Reed, Blaney, Marks, Mintz and Philo.

Markham and Gentry brought the field to green for the 25 lap late model feature and the pair battled hard for the lead with Rick Bond and Mike Bores side by side right behind. Gentry got the slight advantage over Markham with Bores and Bond trading the third spot over the first six laps. Markham drove into the lead on lap eight but Gentry, Bores and now Doug Drown were within half a car length. Markham utilized the high line to begin to pull away slightly as Bores and Drown raced side by side over the next four laps for second.

Drown began eating away at Markham’s lead but a bobble on the cushion in turn three cost him valuable real estate. The first caution flew on lap 14 for Nick Cox. On the restart Markham was able to pull away from Drown with Bores, Matt Irey and Brad Malcuit in pursuit. Bores drove under Drown for second on lap 18 just before the caution flew for a Malcuit spin. On the ensuing restart Bores ducked under Markham but couldn’t get by with Drown racing right off their rear bumpers.

With two laps to go Drown was within half a car length of Markham. But, Markham would hit his marks perfectly and drove to the win over Drown, Bores, Irey and 15th place starter Dave Hornikel.

Rookie Trevor Baker jumped into the lead of the 305 sprint feature and built a sizeable lead as Ricky Peterson, Foos, Jamie Miller, Dan Hennig and Steve Rando gave chase. Foos took the second position on lap three just prior to the caution for Kyle Capodice who slowed to a stop. Baker got a great restart and pulled away from Foos, Peterson, Miller, Rando, Jordan Ryan, Hennig and Dustin Dinan.

Disaster struck for Baker on lap nine as he spun in turn two but kept going, falling back to fifth. Now in the lead, Foos used the middle line to build a bit of a lead over Peterson, Miller and Rando. Dinan would coast to a stop on lap 12. Foos again got a great restart and pulled away from Peterson while Miller and Rando battled for third with Ryan, Baker, Brandon Moore, Luke Griffith and Josh Harrison in tow. With 10 laps to go Rando would take third while Peterson began to inch closer to Foos.

Foos encountered lapped traffic with five laps to go but picked his way through and drove to the win over Peterson, Rando, Miller and Ryan.

The first Dirt Classic Ohio was deemed a huge success. Since 2014, the event, which began at Lincoln Speedway in Pennsylvania as a way to get more money into the hands of race teams, has paid out nearly a half million dollars, nearly $200,000 this year alone. And, through the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which was created by the NASCAR star to help charities supporting chronically ill children and their families, over $60,000 has been raised through the Dirt Classic. The Attica Fair Association sold 50/50 raffle tickets to benefit the Kasey Kahne Foundation, raising over $1,600 Saturday. The 50/50 winner then donated $1,000 of his winnings to former 305 sprint driver Junior Felver and his wife Sara and their four-year-old daughter Peyton who is fighting a rare form of cancer.

Attica Raceway Park Promoter John Bores and his staff would like to thank all the race teams, fans, marketing partners, push truck and wrecker operators and safety personnel for their support in 2016 and look forward to more excitement in 2017.